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of the Public Records Act, 1958

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Lydres London, 13th Proc,6/C.

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Last March, when replying to a question

in the House of Comions on the subject of the conveyance of illegs ninlgrants slestine, Mp, Creech Jones, Secretary of State for the Colonics, referred to 25 ships which, so far as

s lmown, had conveyed illegal immigrants to

alestinian waters since November 1945, and gave

one such ship as having flown the Portuguese flag,

As ~ou may be aware, on hearing this we enquired fron the Poreian Office the name of the ship in question and were told that it was. "ENZO ¢ SERENI".

HTaving er this information to

Iam now in a position to say that thore is no ship of this nave in the Portuguese Shipping Ir, Furthermore, tho authorities concerned Sir Orme Sarrent, E.C.NVG., C.B., |

Foreign Office, Whit ehall 3 S) ls sli

NOQNOT ‘3914490 G4093N JI 1eNd 3HL JO LHDIHAdOD

havo stated that, to their lnowledeec, no Portuguese vessel has been used for the conveyanco of illeral

are naturally anx:

wrong impression should be corrected and I

should accordingly much appreciate it if you would very kindly bring the above to the notice of the Secretary of State for the

Colonics,

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IN THIS MARGIN.

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". 3148 Wt. 26469/137 100m 9/46 (61) F.&S..

‘Portuguese _. Ambassador

From:

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sir Orme Sargent ‘|sltegal, immigrants to Palestine.

Thank you ‘for your letter No. 136 ee of Mey 13th, in which you were good enough

to inform me that no vessel named. "gnz0- a |sereni" is contained Ln. the Portuguese

| shipping Register and that. ‘the Portuguese.

authorities know of ho Portuguese vessel

having been used for the conveyance of |

poe

I am duly conveying this information

to the Secretary of State for the Colonies,

as you ‘request, with reference to the A.

|recent reply by. Mr. Creech Jones on this

subject. in the House of Commone.

NOONOT ‘391440 GNOI3Y 91 7GNg 3HL 40 LHD1YAdOD

s

MBM as ey. yy FILE 2ath Mey, 1947,

Deer Polenella ,

a, _bank you for your letter Mo, 186 of 15th May, in which you were good enough fo inform me that no vegue] Rhamed “Enso~ Sereni™ ie contained in the Portuguese Shipping Register and that the Portuguese aathorities mow of no Portuguese vegeel having been used for the conveyance of 4116gel immigrants to Pelestine,

_. £ @m duly conveying thie information to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Gg you request, With reference to a resent reply by Mr. Creech Jones on this subjedt in the House of Commons,

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Eig Excellency 7

the Duke of Falmelia, Portuguese Embasay, GWel.

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4.166

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Ales

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retaine a by the authorised Ksoipien mo] ce ld on] Cypher/OTP. CABINET DISTRIBUTION FROM ROME TO FOREIGN OFFIGE. Sir N. Charles. De 11.10 am, 16th May, 1947.

NO, 1113. Re 2-30 poem 16th May, 1947, 16th May, 1947.

Confidential.

My telegraa No,1l11, paragraph 4,

Jewish illegal immigration,

It is now confirmed that Yilderan is at Savona.

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1947

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TELEGRAM FROM

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References.

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4/67

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Cypher/OIP, | DEPARTWENTAL NO.2.

.

orem + .1- see

FROM ROME TO FOREIGN OFFICES” Repentance ema eneentettnesenascan ero, Sir N. Charles, De 5.55 Pom, 16th lay, 1947,

No, 1117, Re 10, 35 Del. 16th May, 1947, 16th May, 1947,

IMPORTANT. | Zz ’ eC fae tly telegram No,1111 paragraph 3, Jewish illegal immigration from Bari area,

Various reports received fron Bari were taken up orally with the Director of Political Representations Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning, We thought it best not to mt anything in writing as information was not complete or concl but the Counsellar urged

ppi t diate engu Made into the St taken by the Italian us.

2. Signor Zoppi Said that following the

representation made by His Majesty's Consul at Bari to the local Italian authorities On the night of May lit

2th, the Prefect hed referred peak dh fi the liinister of the Interior at Rame who in turn had consulted the liinistry of Foreign Affairs, The latter had replied that all possible steps should be taken to prevent the illegal embarkation of Jews and believed that this had had some Success. zoppl took note of our representation and promised in peru to supply tos Feb paca evidence

s

about the unknown ship to ass British Naval Authorities in identifying her,

Se ZOppi made the usual reference to the impossibility of controll ng these Jews in South East Italy with ine

sufficient police and no Italien control over U.N.R.RoAe Camps. Counsellor reminded him that there was nothing in U.N.R.R.A. ‘8 cement with the Italian Government to prevent the latter fron establishing their authority within U.N.R.R.A. camps Zoppi dodged this point by referring to the political impossibii of treating ews as risoners but said that the Italian Government hoped for mprovenent by getting Jewish Camps brought as soon as possible under I.R,0, They were alive to the importance of excluding from the latter staff those U.N RRA. pie peter, Suspected of being associated with illegal gration.

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Cypher/OTP

FROM ROMS TO FORBIGN OFFICE

Sir N. Charles D.9.2. am. 17th May, 1947.

.

16th May, 1947. a

A1C7 |

SBURST - 2” AVC, ) My telegram No.1046 paragraph 2.4 (9 MAY '

Waenseneee i. wee saree”

BBBB

Suspected Jewish immigration ship Vrissi.

On April 18th the Ministry of Foreign affairs were requested to make cok ph enquiries about Vrissi at Genoa, to take appropriate steps to control ship's movements in Italian waters and to ensure that no Jews should be allowed to embark in her without genuine documents of destination.

oe In reply to enquiry how the matter stood, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated to-day that the necessary orders were given sometime ago by the Italian Ministry of Marines for an investigation of the civcumstances of this ship.

In the meantime, the ee an ey of Marine had also instructed the competent officials to prevent the ship leaving Genoa. |

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FROM ROME TO FOREIGN OFFICK ~

Sir N, Charles D. 7.68 p.m. May 17th, 1947, No. 1136. R. 10.10 p.m. May 17th, 1947, May 17th, 1947, | : 3

Repeated to Paris JJJ

MOST IMMEDIATE | | q p/¢ ¥ Apu Your telegram No. 927, oy

Confidenti al °

Jewish illegal immigration, apg of Foreign Affairs has just informed me that "Anal" has just arrived from Marseilles with 575 Jews on board. We understand she is flying the Panamanian flag. She is stated by Ministry to be due to sail for Alexandria.

2. I have requested the ‘ae to hold up | ed ship pending your instructions, I will telegraph ater.

Foreign Office please repeat to Paris most immediate as my telegram No, 85, | |

[Repeated Most Immediate to Paris, ]

NOONOT °391590 GH093E JITaNd 3HL 4O LHDIYAdOD

OUT FILE

[MMED aTE

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Confidential Cypher/OTP DEPARTMENTAL NO, 2.

FROM EGRET EIGN OFFICE TO CAIRO

0,975 ve 2.0 asm. 18th May, 1947, 18th May, 1947. | _aepeated to Rome No.1040 Immediate

BBBB LDCDTATE a

Rome telegram No. 1126 lof a Jewish illegal immigration]

whether these 575 Jews have visas to enter

gpt since vessel‘s destination is stated to be :

exandria.

Please ascertain and rsport ‘to enter by A

NOONOT 6391430 OYOITY D17GNd IHL JO LHDIYAdOD

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11

Re 10.30 Pelle 17th May 1947.

please repeat to Rome as my telegran | | | ? ~f Your telegram No. 503. wer? /i 7, fy S.S. President Warfield.

(cory « of ane ~ i nih x appr es auth y rede

[Repeated to Rem “a

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g IF We’ Ba ie that | Cypher/oTP DEPARTMENTAL NO, 2.

FROM ROME TO FOREIGN OFFICE,

Sir N, N. Charles, D: 6.1 pem 16th May, 1947 ith May, 1947, R: 9,55 a.m. 17th May, 1947, AAAA SECRET, Jewish illegal immigration, fe 7 I

Fstgep7it In the course of conversations reported in my telegram No,1097 Secretary General of Italian Ministry

of Foreign Affairs made a rather obscure remark

to the effect that it was always open to His Majesty's Government to reach a bilateral agreement with the [talian Government about control of illegal immigration from Italy. - The @ecretary General was defending at the time the alleged inability of the Italian Goverment to hold up suspected ships under existing Italian law

and trying to [grp undec. ? exaggerate point that if the italian authorities let "President Warfield" go they

would be inviting all the other numerous suspected ships to use Italian ports.

; 2. While I think this suggestion worth reporting .f find it difficult to imagine how in practice any Satisfactory bilateral agreement of this sort ceuld be reached between the twe Governments, I am sure that the /real solution ef the leng-term preblem is (compare « paragraph 4 (c) my telegram iio.1083) passage of some :| gert ef resolutien by U.N.O. urging Gevernments te take , \ necessary measures te step this alandestine traffic. | The Italian Gevernment weuld be very sensitive te any | direction by United peers in their eagerness to ‘| jein the ranks.

WOOWOT “391430 GHOITH 21TENd INL 4O LHDIHAdOD

ae corre of :

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23

| DEPARTMENTAL NO. 2.

Sir N. Charles, D. 9.49. pem. May 17th, 1947.

No, 1127. May 17th, 19247. k, 12,05. asm. iiay 18th, 1927,

Repeated to Paris, 66 6 6 6 MOST IMMEDIATE, Confidential. My immediately preceding telegram.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the iiinistry of Marine tc do everything in their power to hold up the ship for the time being. He says that unfortunately telephone communication to Palermo has broken dewn, but urgent telegram has been sent to the port authorities, and he hopes that the ship is not being furnished with the necessary fuel to go to "the nearest port, Malta or Tunis", I said that I could not accept that at all, and the ship must be stopped at all costs on the same basis as the President Warfield. Signor Fransoni is, I am sure, doing his best.

Foreign Office please ie Pe to Paris Mest Immediate as my telegram No, 86,

[Repeated te Paris lest Immediate, ]

NOOWOT “3914930 GYOISH 9178Nd BHL JO LHDIYAdOD

Registry No.

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COPYRIGHT OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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OUT FILE

Cypher/OTP DEPARTMENTAL No, 2,

FROM FORRIGN OFFICE TO ROME.

No, 1048, D. 4,20 pom. 18th May, 1947, 18th May, 1947,

Repeated to Paris No. 813 (Important).

55 8 IMMEDIATE,

Your telegram No. 1127 ; illegal immigration]. lof lay 17th: Jewish

I approve your action and attach highest importance to this ship being held up, Dieu press the Italian authorities to scrutinise the ship's papers and the passengers’ travel documents very carefully: also to try and establish where the passengers embarked. this is a clear case of Jewish illegal amei gration and we consider that the passengers should be returned whence they came,

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1947

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Last Paper: -~ | (Minutes. ) ITY

References.

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Next Paper.

uf Sl

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! - DEPARTME: INTAL NO, 2¢ | q ite |

she sameness ye: ge

FROM ROME TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Sir 8. Charles O, 1129

Cypher/OTP

Oe02 Poem. May 18th, 1947. May 18th, 1947. 6.20 peme ay 18th, 1947.

Repeated to Paris

IMMEDIATE

My immediately preceding telegre:. Jewish Illegal Immigration.

The Counsellor protested to the Secretary General against su es ae coal ppresunsy? derived from U,ii.ReReAe to which the United Kimgdom was the second largest contributor) and emphasised the bad impression this would cause in London. ‘The Secretary General claimed that the Port Authorities were Sh de by international law to suppey fuel to enable any ship to reach the next

attempted to ateue ee the imbassy had o his co

port and nversation with me

concurred in this prior reported in my telegram No, 1127. He finally ended | however by virtually admitting that the Italian Government were determined to get rid of the Anal and her unwelcone

passengers.

Se The Counsellor requested that circular instructions be given to the Pert Authorities not (repeat not) in future to give any fuel to suspect Jewish ships and made the point about not prejudicing United tations proceedings. The Secretary General replied that it was essential for His Majesty's Government and Italian — Government to agree on a standard procedure for handling these illegal immigrant snips e presen TSetion—

NOONOT 6391440 GY0I3Y D11GNd BHL 40 LHDIYAdOD

p as was intolerable (c.f. my telegram Ilo. 1115).

3. The Secretary General was obviously distressed lest the Anal incident should_end in recriminatiens [grp. undeé. ] LgrPe undeds 2ease of ] President \arfield (whic

aily

incident s still in Porto Venere with British and Ttalian naval authorities keeping touch). He claims to be doing everything possible to meet our requirements but again begs us to understand his difficulties. He told

the Counsellor in confidence that he had been st to ver poayy. censure from private interests over the wartield and expeets the same over the Anal. He complains bitterly of the attitude of the French who let both these

ships go on to Italy. 4. Please telegraph your instructions urgently. maywe_will continue to press for the Anal to be held at

> 4M fe Ay ~” Foreign Office please repeat to Paris Important as

bi LN, mpitelegram No. 88- 4nd [Repeated Important to Paris]

: Number. |

TELEGRAM FR

: No. Kod | MY eZ afer} Jee d aS : : é ae or Dated , , |

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WItt

[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on].

‘i a,) 2 | Cypher/OTP DIPLOMATIC (SECRET). FROM WASHINGTON TO FORSIGN OFFICE.

Lord Inverchapel. D. 5-17 pem. 17th lay 1947. No. 2952 Re. 9.40 pem. 17th May 1947.

17th ifay 1947.

Repeated to Rome Paris.

TMMEDIATE.

TOP SHCR:T. in

Your telegram Noe 4867 - illegal immigration into Palestine. |

Balfour spoke this mornin. to Villard, Deputy Director of the Office of Near astern Affairs, who said that the way for a public declaration by the United States Government had been considerably eased as a result of the resolution by the Special Assembly invitin: Governments and peoples to refrain from creating an atmosphere prejudicial to an early settlement of tr« Palestine question.

2. iir. Villard expressed the hope that it would prove possible to issue such a declaration at an early date.

He also assured Balfour that the State Department were actively examining the legal possibilities open to them to obstruct the sale and departure of ships and much regretted that a reply to our repeated appeals regarding illegal immigration had been so long delayed. He remarked that the scurrilous advertisement by Ben Hecht described in your telegram No. 4927 gave a real opportunity to respond to our wishes. (N.B. this telegram had not arrived at the time of Balfour's talk with Villard. ‘fe have now used it and your immediately following télegram to drive home the plea for urgent action. I will keep up the ceed

WOONOT “391430 GH0934 2178Nd 3HL 430 LHD IYAGOD

3. On the particular yuestion of the President Warfield, Villard was sympathetically disposed to the suggestion that the United States Government should assure the

/Italisn

Ze

Italian Government that they were not impairing

American goodwill by co-operation with us in this matter. | As, however, the United States Government had not

yet publicly condemned illegal immigration, he

did not think that they could go so far as to

make the intimation to the Ttalian Government in:

the form recommended in paragraph 4(B) of Rome telegram No. 1083. Balfour urged that no time

should be lost in making known the United States

attitude to the Italian Government. .

Foreign Office please pass to ome and Paris Saving as wy telegrams Nos. 104 and 51

respectively.

[Repeated te home and Saving to Paris].

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. An interdepartmental meeting was held at this office on 6th May to discuss. means whereby a ship could be detained legally or administratively in United Kingdom ports. The aim in view was to discover the procedure through which a ship must go before leaving a United Kingdom port and to see in what way obstructions could be interposed. It was felt that it might be of some assistanceto His Majesty's representatives abroad to be informed of United Kingdom procedure which might be a guide to the practice of other Kuropean countries anda basis on which representations to foreign Governments could be made.

It appears that before a ship can be cleared at a United Kingdom port it must show the following certificates in proper order:

Safety at Sea

Load line

‘Passenger | Wireless (for ships of 1,600 tons) Registry — Port Health Authorities.

WOOWOT *391440 040934 91T1ANd 3HL JO LHOIYAdOD

As regards the first two, they are required only for

Ships registered in countries that have subscribed to

the Safety at Sea Convention; and it seems that no /sanctions

T. CABLE, ESQ.

sanctions can be applied for breach of the Convention. A delay could, however, be imposed during an inspection of the ship by the competent authority, Board of Trade surveyors. In fact, of course, the Italian authorities are acting against "President Warfield" on these lines. |

As regards the Passenger Certificate, if a ship sails empty from a United Kingdom port, although > obviously fitted out for more passengers than the number shown on the certificate, it cannot be detained. If, however, it sails loaded in excess of the number shown the Port Authorities canstop it sailing. |

More information is being sought regarding the Registry and Wireless certificates and the action that might be taken under them.

It appears that the Port Health Authorities have wide powers of inspection and that effective action can perhaps most easily be taken under this

head. If nuisances e.g. vermin etc. or structural defects eege in lavatories or ventilation system are found on board, the Authorities may hold the ship until the nuisances or defects are rectified. They also have certain rights of inspecting passengers _ under the Safety at Sea Convention for infectious diseases. 3 |

WOGNOT “391440 GHO9TY D1TENd BNL 40 LHDIYAOD

concerned

We have asked the various Dever non. oO

ZY

ae ee

to let us know as soon as possible how far legal action can be taken against ships and what physical restraint can be imposed upon them under these heads. At present it is not clear which Safety and Health requirements are demanded by law and which are merely laid down in International Conventions. We will of course inform you at once of the replies.

It was further pointed out at the meeting that great inconvenience could be caused to the ships engaged in the illegal immigration traffic if they could be denied water, bunkers, pilotage and tugs.

The denial of bunker facilities is, of course, under active consideration at the present time. But it was strongly felt that if the Port Authorities could be induced in any way whatsoever to refuse or at least hold up facilities for taking on water or the permission to use tugs and pilots, then serious embarrassment and delay would undoubtedly be caused to the organisers of illegal immigration.

"President Warfield" will of course be in many ways a test case for obstructive action of this kind against illegal immigration ships. m™ hope the results will be satisfactory.

(EeN. FITZGERALD) _—

NOOWOT “391430 GH093H 2178Nd 3HL JO LHDIBAKOD

Registry a ft. No.E 1087/84/32 Eee: “our F Le

Foreign Office, S.W. 1. 40 May 5 1947.

Dear Chancery,

: : Please refer to our despatch To following | oa Chanceries: Paris — | — 25Q000—- _ | a

sels ee 7 eae of the lOth May about the use to Stockholm | | Copenhagen \ Rome, — Belgrade Bucharest oe be Pee or’. the provisions of the Tatemational Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,

Copies to: | 1929 and the International Convention

s

IN. THIS MARGIN.

Mr. Fitzgerald, respecting Load Lines, 1930, in delaying

~C.O. | _ ships suspected of complicity in the

Admiralty and — : illegal immigration traffic into Palestine.

M.I.5 (usual | |[CAMeus 6 ha te yew letiy We. 46/43 (47

names) is : Ze re pen occurred to us “ney the ‘following and account » of the various means whereby such a

Mr. Wood, | | Miny. of Transpor ship could legally or administratively be ;

detained in an United Kingdom port esi be | Une |

WOONOT *391430 GHOITE D1TaNd 3HL 40 LHDIYAdOD

of some assistance Oo you when

wale wr tn. bool amotu.

2 Ww - _ es = us 2 Oo jum oO = - =e a oO >

e. i aepeens that, before a ship can be cleared at a United Kingdom port, it must show the following certificates in proper order: | |

(a) Safety at Sea (b) Load Line

(c) Passenger

(da) Wireless (for ships of 1600 tons) (e) Registry and. a

(f) Port Health Authorities.

3148 Wt. 26469/137 100m 9/46 (51) F.&S.

The first two certificates are required only

for ‘ships registered in countries that have.

subscribed to the International Convent ion for the Safety of Life at Sea, It seems

that no sanctions can ‘be applied for a breack

of this Convention. A delay could, however, |

be. imposed during an inspection of the. ship by the competent. authority, in this case

‘the. Surveyors of the Board of Trade. ‘This | ‘procedure was mecenuty adopted by the Italia ‘a authorities. in epaer to delay the Benen |

of the “Peert dont Warfield".

he The Passenger Certificate shows the

‘maximum number of passengers which the Ship

‘IN. THIS MARGIN. |

is permitted to carry. The Port Authorities can prevent a ship from sailing if the number of passengers actually on poard exceeds this figure. The mere fact that

the ship is obviously fitted out to carry anne than the permitted number of passengers”

is not, however, a valid reason for delaying

WOOWOT *391990 GH093Y 911ENd FHL 40 LHDIYAdOD

it.

Zz Las - — = e >. i r) oy

9

: 2 = = 2

5. More information is being sought regarding the Registry and Wireless Certificates and the action that might be

taken Gage them.

6. The Port Health Authorities have wide ‘powers of inspection and effective action can most easily be taken by them. If the ship _ is found. to be vérminous or if its jenvietion ob levatoriencané defective, the ship may be detained until these defects are |

remedied. /

z | 8 << 2 2 — fas z E = = wl sg Oo - Oo -. f= O y

se |

_ Yemedied. The Port Health Authorities also possess certain rights, under the Convention for the Safety of Life at Seay. of inspecting

“passengers for infectious diseases.

te Great inconvenience could, of course,

be caused to any ship suspected of complicity

1 in the illegal immigration traffic if the Port Authorities could be induced to deny

italics} PUBESES) pilotage and tugs.

Yours ever,

EASTERN DEPARTMENT.

AB nan 23

WOONOT §391490 GHOIZS J1TANd JHL JO LHDIYAdOD

ee eae Coal | ~ . FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1. | 30th May, 1947, ‘ —— «B89

| , 250." " — (B, 4187/64/31) 145 RESTRICTED. |

ED. 199 | 402 536 Dear Chancer 199 ae 280 Please refer to our despatch No. 154 of the 10th May about the use to be made of the provisions of the international Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1929 and the International Convention respecting Load Lines, 1930, in delaying ships suspected of complicity in oe illegal immigration traffic into Palestine. /Athens only/and to your letter No.46/93/47 of 23rd April.

- it has occurred to us that the following account of the various means whereby such a ship could legally or administratively be detained in an United Kingdom port might be of some assistance to you when taking up the matter with the local authorities,

do, it appears that, before a ship can be cleared at a United Kingdom port, it must show the following certificates in proper order:

\

1) Safety at Sea Load Line /} Passenger Wireless (for ships of 1600 tons) Registry and \f) Port Health Authorities.

The first two certificates are required only for ships rege | istered in countriss that heve aubseribed t> tho Internat jonal Convintion fo. tho Safcty of Life at Sea, It seems that no sanctions can be applied for a breach of this Convention, <A delay could, however, be imposed during

en inspection of the ship by the competent authority, in this case the Surveyors of the Board of Trade. This ‘ progedure was recently adopted by the Italian authorities

in order to delay the sailing of the "President Warfield",

4, The Passenger Certificate shows the maximum number of passengers which the ship is permitted to carry. The Port Authorities can prevent a ship from sailing if the number of passengers actually on board exceeds this figure. The mere fact that the ship is obviously fitted out to carry more than the permitted number of passengers is not, however, a valid reason for delaying it.

WOONOT §3914490 GYOITE 91TANd IHL 4O LHDIYAdOD

5. More information is being sought regarding the Registry and Wireless Certificates and the action that might be taken under them, | |

6. The Port Health Authorities have wide powers of inspection and effective action can most easily be taken by them. If the ship is found to be verminous or 4f ite ventilation or lavatories are defective, the ship may be detained until these defects are remedied. The Port Health Authorities also possess certain rights, under the Oonvention for the Safety of Life at Sea, of inspecting passengers for infccvtious diseases, /

Te

¥, Great inconvenience could, of coursed, he eansed to any ship suspected of complicity in the d’Zeral immigration traffic if the Port Authoritica couda be induced to deny water, bunkers, pilotage and tugs.

Yours ever, EASTERN DEPARTMENT,

The Chancery, British Enbassy, Paria.

The Chencery, British Enbasay, Brussels,

The Chancery, ht Embassy, @ Hague,

the Chen nsery, 4 3 ation Stockholm,

The Chancery, British legetion,

Copenhagen,

The Chancery lal 4 on ome

The Chancery sal SRbaser

The Chence ery, British Legation, Bucharest,

The , Chance British “Boge SEY» Athen Re

The Chancery British Rnbassy, Liabon,

WOOWOT °391490 GH093¥ 9171ENd 3HL 40 LHDIYAdOD

250.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Following document(s retained in the Department of origin under Section 3 (4)

of the Public Records Act, 1958

Fitsol {4 [E/

a] «< = o> = per ° nn ~4 = a so a @ Cr © m rs ° 4 o ° ni = oO or re ° t 4 &

1947 | —

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waite } euczoafe/y | Silpe! Rampoelina WP ALE& Used.

TELEGRAM FROM | ki # / (il 9o9r E wits /ee/n| Xabi l(t of ds. x Fanpldl RICA Ws /- Wa lols thal “ay yiplit ulin f ie id tu rye Lad Achy & PLT Lot Ke Kan fendi Dated 4 -_- Nee } // 4 g 7. Ain onl or role GCL) ty Afr (algo! in Registry , 7 : fn fi-

TYG ARLE 4 ae L fionl WAY “(nt head q Rrealed . | f

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$2008 F.0.P.

le Cypher/OTP DEPARTMENTAL No, 2 FROM CAIRO TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Sir re 3 Cempbell D, 5. 26 p.m 18th ilay, 1927,

No: 11, R, 8 OO p.m 18th May, 1937, | BES, 1947.

Repeated to Rome, \

2

E 4202

DMEDIATE ; 2 CONREDRITIAL Ain p ¢

Your telegram No. 975. 416 t/\

Director of Passport Office ‘of the Ministry of the Interior states that no application for — | Egyptian visas for 375 Jews has been referred to him and that ‘under existing regulations he would have | expected any application to be referred to hin. before any visas were granted,

WOOWOT “391430 GH093H 2178Nd 3HL 4O LHDIBAdOD

“1 No.

Ney

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IN. THIS “MARGIN:

ss a

z aaa = = ee > ‘a fs) ve) f= Oo z =< = ° 4

Wt. 26469/137 50m 9/46 (51) F.&S.

Registry

Top Secret. Secret. Confidentiai.

| Restricted. Open.

Repeat to :—

onde” Rome re ‘ [LtO PA

i“

xB ini. Gar. Cypher.

Distribution :—

Departmental No.2

Coptes to :— I eo I @ P,.

OUT Fig F, 0,

May, 1947.

rd

a -_-,

‘MOST IMMEDIATE Despatthed |) | ~ M.

a 3 i ry rs f ca oe ,. . ; | : ra hee } w : é e

Your telegram No.llkS/or May 19, Jewish Illegal Immigration7.

"ANAL" is now reported to be making for Port Said, where at present speed she would arrive at midnight May 29/30th. She is being Shadowed by British naval tessel “WHITE “SAND BAY. 2. This vessel is clearly proved to be

carrying Jewish illegal immigrants to Palestine.

I take it that the Egyptian Government, as members of the Arab League, will wish to cooperate in preventing this traffic. Please

explain the position to them and request them

‘to deny any further bunkers to the ANAL and to

prevent her by all other available means from

leaving an Egyptian port for Palestine. otrum § hKounih be taken |

ame .

ob

Ji ran 18

NOOWOT “391990 GHOITA 917ENd IHL 4O LHDIYAdOD

OUT FILE

Gy phex/OTP DEPARTMENTAL, No. 2 ? FROM FOREIGN OFFICE 0 CALRO No, 108 D. 7.15 pom. 20th May, 1947 28th May, 1947 | uuu uu st

Your telegras No. 1148 [of May 18th: Jewish illegal immigration].

"Anal" a noe reported to be making ig Port Sala, sent Ai phe dir she wuld arrive at midnight May yoooth 50th | sand Bay, shadowed by British naval vessel Danites

9, This vessel is clearly proved to be Gartying Jewish ot ieeer aanigrests to Palestine, I take i that Bay ptt eer bite as members of the Arab apg “Wi wish te rate in preventing this treffic. Please explain the posi tion “to then and request then to deny any ther bunkers to the "Anal" and te prevent. her all other available means from leaving an ptian port fer Palestine,

5. We are considering what further action should be taken RB,

~v o«< r -) 6? | = =~ °o wn" ~4 = mm, a: 4 @ re © r | m © °o ] o °o n" = © as Cr °o = =

1947 Nina > € 14 2ks/gefi

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Ja.

Last Paper. C262 -

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No.

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—

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C207

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LY if

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Cr21Y

Uy,

i” Cp.

PALESTINE | 8O Wey

SS AWA PIECE

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4

Cypher/OTP - DEPARTMENTAL NO, 2.

FROM ROME TO FOREIGN OFFICE

eer od

sir N, Charles D. 7.22 pom. May 19th 1947, No. 1140. R. 9.40 a Mey 19th, 1947.

Repeated to Paris

MOST IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL | My telegram No. 1131. —

secretary General told me at a that the Anal was still at Palermo and that the Italian Government must shortly allow her to sail. She has sufficient coal to take her as far as O45. Tunis. If she enters another Italian port she would be declared detained,

ve

Signor Fransoni said it was impossible for the Italian Government to go on holding up ships without good legal grounds and he hoped I could propose some acceptable solution. It was difficult to keep 550 Jews indefinitely on the Anal outside Palermo but he assured me that strict orders had been given to prevent Jews leaving the country without proper documents. He did not believe the Jews could have been picked up in Italy and enquired why the French authorities allowed such passengers to embark.

Foreign Ue el repeat immediate to Paris as my telegram No. 90.

[Repeated to Paris, ]

NOONOT “391430 GYOITE 917ENd 3HL 40 LHOIYAdOD

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Following document(s) retained in the Department of origin under Section 3 (4)

of the Public Records Act, 1958

Exuag/ i/2/

J < = 2 = par °o n" ~ = m, aE ei @ | ond © m © o 3 = ] °o wh = © - [ °o z= =

PALESTINE

194

clngfecl

par | , Srtidal 6) nye f FROM é / a: ail, aa spe of. bn bller fo brit No. “— 7 FORZ pI 225 S20 A Y of Dated - { 72 if 20/a 7 7 i ~ (a Received 72 s- 2b wy dp v6 rey: MA in Registry] vA

wa Mey Mt.

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L2ALRZ : 32003 F.0.P

= a as a og GO : ole ay: eee s aces ‘ - rar « y ag west orp qian srt key Se RETR tee RNG em

325/ab/u7,

HIS Majesty’s Representative at Rome presents his compliments to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to |

transmit herewith copy of the under-mentioned paper.

British Embassy, | Ee. 4 ?. i 0

Rome, 12th May , 1947.. yO MBN NO/iy

Reference to previous des

ae aa = sal" oreign Office: Tel. No.1071 of llth May, 1947. Description of Enclosure.

Name and Date. | Subject.

HE, to Count Sforza Jewish immigrant ship “= 325/20/h7 of lith May, "President Warfield". and 5325/26/47 of 11th May.

. (13191) W+.42998/3052 5,000 1/40 A.& E.W.Ltd. Gp.685

3525/20/47 _ British Embassy ROME

Immediate and Secret llth May, 1947

My dear Minister,

On 9th May, Signor Fransoni informed me that the "President Warfield". about which I wrote to you on 7th May in connection with Jewish illegal immigration into Palestine, had been refused permission to leave port for the next two or three days on the grounds that certain repairs were necessary. |. Signor Fransoni warned me however that unless I could furnish further reasons why the ship should not be allowed to sail he thought it would be impossible to deaay its departure beyond Monday 12th May.

Re It is for this reason that I am now writing to you urgently in order to communicate to you the following evidence which shows virtually beyond possibility of doubt that this ship is in fact intending to carry illegal 3 immigrants to Palestine, and that in all probability she is proposing to pick them up from the Italian coast in defiance of Italian law. 7

(a) The Press in the United States of America and the United Kingdom (New York Times and The Daily Telegraph) have mentioned the "President Warfield" in connection with Jewish illegal immigration. An article in the New York Times of 7th March reported that she was fitting out in Norfolk, Virginia for this purpose and that sme of the crew had admitted that her destination was Palestine, and had indicated that she was to follow a previous ship engaged in this traffic called the "Abril".

(b) This report has been corroborated by others to the effect that the original captain of the ship (see paragraph 5(b) below) was reported to have stated on leaving Baltimore that the ships destination was Palestine: the Chief Engineer was also reported to have stated that 5,000 refugees would be embarked for Palestine, and that the ship would run the British blockade.

WOONOT “391430 GHOITH 91TENd FHL JO LHDISAdOD

(c) The owners of the "President Warfield", the Western Trading Company of 35, Stone Street, New York City, also own other ships which are now at sea and are strongly suspected to be en route for Palestine, engaged in the same nefarious business of illegal Jewish immigration.

(da) The ship is carrying over 1,200 mess kits, 150 canteens and about 2,100 life jackets; in brief it is clearly intending to carry large numbersof passengers.

(e) The crew of the ship are practically all Jews (a figure of 80% has been mentioned). They are not regarded ‘as bona fide seamen, being above the average in education and are reported to be receiving disproportionately small salaries and, to be willing to undertake their,work as a "natriotic duty".

oe These facts would seem to prove that the account given by the master of the ship, to the effect that he is n a normal commercial voyage to Istanbul, is So much so indeed that —

to say e

4. I fear that no concrete evidence is available as to where the ship will attempt to take her illegal passengers on board, and in the nature of things it is almost impossible to secure such evidence. However, the information received by my Government about previous similar cases of ships being engaged in this traffic has always proved correct, and we are in fact in no doubt whatsoever that this ship is involved in it too. It is of interest in this connection that according to our |

latest information suspicious embarkations and activities have taken place during the last fdw days at Bogliasco and other Italian ports on the west coast, In the light of previous experience this would suggest that preparations are being made for transhipment of Jewish immigrants to the "President Warfield". No doubt we can count on your help in ensuring that these movements are watched closely.

De Quite apart from these considerations, evidence has reached us about the "President Warfield" which shows that she is probably not in a fit state for an ocean voyage, and that she is certainly not properly equipped to take on board the total complement of 5,000 passengers which we are told she is intending to carry. Thus: |

(a) during the voyage between Norfolk and Phila- delphia the ship's superstructure is reported to have shifted two inches, and the former captain of the vessel protested that the ship was unfit for an ocean voyage.

(b) the number of passengers which it is reported that she can safely carry is very considerably less than the figure of 5,000 named above; and if she fulfils her intention of carrying so large a number there is a serious danger that she may capsize.

6. I referred in my letter of 7th May to the grave risk to human life which this illegal traffic implies, and . in view of the facts given above you may think it desirable that this ship should be subjected to an exhaustive examination by the Italian marine éxperts, in order to ascertain whether or not she is seaworthy.

NOOWOT “3913430 GHOISE JDITENd FHL 4O LHDIYAdOD

Te From the care which has been taken in collecting all the evidence which I have given you above, you will see that my Government is deeply concerned lest this ship should leave Portovenere with all the complications that will follow. They do in fact regard this as a test case as you will probably have deduced from the frequent rep- resentations which I have made to you about it. Consequently you will appreciate that if in fact the "President Warfield" does in the end leave port and reach Palestine it will be necessary for us to insist that the Italian Government should take back her passengers (in accordance with the policy which I communicated to you in my letter of lst April) with gll the resulting publicity and damage to anglo-Italian relations at this particularly delicate moment. At the same time the Italian Government inevitably become subject to pressure of an embarrassing character from Zionist interests. I have no doubt that you will agree therefore that it would be a more prudent course, in the interests of the Italian Government, as well as in those of my Government, that firm measures should be taken to prevent the ship's departure now rather than to risk at a later date the dameging consequences described above. |

(sgd) NOEL CHARLES

3525/26/47 British Embassy ROME VERY URGENT llth May, 1947 — My dear Minister,

With reference to the urgent letter whieh I sent you this morning about the case of the ship "President Warfield", I have been instructed by my Government to represent to you the great importance of placing Italian offictal observers upon all vessels in Italian waters which are suspected of

: intending to embark Jews for illegal immigration into Palestine.

In particular, it appears very urgent to take this action in the case of the "President Warfield" at Portovenere. The presence of an Italian official observer on board this ship would be a gcuarantes against the evident risk thet her captain may disobey

the orders of the Italian Government and leave port

in order to embark 1llegal inmigrants off the coast of Italy.

Believe me, my dear Miniater,

Yours very sincerely

WOOWOT °391430 GYOI3H 91T1ENd FHL JO LHDIYAdOD

(agd) NORL CHARLES

Count Carlo Sforza Minister for gh tains Affal ra R ’

| Registry 1E bh 2/ °C /

Num er

Dated

Received in Registry

Last Paper.

G220

References.

(How disposed of.)

(Action

‘ BK

Next Papér.

‘British Embassy,

Paris.

Dear Department,

With reference to our letter of the. ‘Sth May 1946 in reply to yours (E2199/84/31) of the 19th March, 1947, _ requesting information about the regulations: governing. the grent or withholding of clesrance in French ports, the following information. has: been provided on this subject by His Majesty's Consul-General at Nice on the basis of enquiries made at Nice and Villefranche about the pro- cedure for all ships visiting these ports.

arrival the following documents must be deposited by each ship with the customs. authorities:

Menifest of cargo Manifest of crew Manifest of passengers Bill of Health | ‘Ship’ 8 passport.

Before departure the manifests must have a clearance stamp affixed by the Customs Officer, and the documents deposited are not returned until "this has meen done.

auasafay

In cases of irregularity, this clearance stamp would be refused and the ship not allowed to leave.

: If a ship left without this clearance stamp, —

i.e. without the documents deposited, a fast cutter would

be sent to intercept it, if within the twelve miles: ‘limit. Yours ever,

Chancery.

NOONOT £39!440 OY0938 J1TENd JHL JO LHDIYAdOD

Eastern Department, | Foreign Office, London,S.W.1.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Following document(sf retained in the Department of origin under Section 3 (4)

of the Public Records Act, 1958

2yase/ 84/21

=>

“Nee y oer / ef. FROM

he Exel ra

WHA 9 (Me Ye ZO 4 -

Dated

Received in Registry

Last Paper. “25-6

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(Print.)

(How disposed of.)

(Action completed.)

Next Paper.

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LAN

Cypher/oTP Lx NEY pRpARTVENDAL No.2.

FROM ROME TO FORSIGN CFIICE.

Sir N. Charles | 0. 1141 Dd. Rar

. om 19th May 1947,

40 4s m. 19th May 1947,

MOST IMMEDIATE | CONFIDENTIAL

Your telegram No. 1048,

it spip pad = be e

Argument oe appeaied to him was that in, the last paragra and he try to hold ey the vessel until communication arrives from Panamanian Governnent,

MAY ay Som 7 Ws5

an - ao Hie"

WOONOT *391440 GH0938 91 18Nd 3HL 40 LH918Ad09

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Following document(s4 retained in the Department of origin under Section 3 (4)

of the Public Records Act, 1958

EFaLabs/T4/[F

5{o

we an. :

FROM Ly f ; A af /) Dated Received in Registry

Last. Paper.

L263

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(Print.)

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(Action completed.)

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HIS Majesty’s Ambassador at Paria . presents his compliments to H.M.P.S. of S. for F.A. and has the honour to transmit to him the under-mentioned documents. _

Embassy.

i 17th Me Reference to previous correspondence:

OL MAN

Description of Enclosure.

Name and Date. Subject.

Copy of Note No. S.S. President h6l to Ministry of Warfield. Foreign Affairs,

dated 17th May, 1947.

34794 28711—1 (8)

British Hnbassy,

7 72/ 219/47 parse

Ho. 64 mmed Li L7th May, 1547.

His Majesty's eobuBssy present eisde couplinents to tne Ministry oF Forcign Avfeirs and have the honour to invite tne Ministry's attention to their note Hoe bleée of Hay LOth about tne “eSe president Warfield. .«

ae As the result of peprescntuti ois made to the Ttaudian Goyernuent, lt has been joseiole up to the present to delay the departure OL tiie vessel, but it is now understood that she was duce to gail from vorto

yenere at 7 GeMs this morninge Since, however, the

Ship had arrived in Italy with a certiviesate of seaworthi- ness issued by the bureau Veritas of New York whieh restricted ner to carrying sea passengers in coastal truifie, and since, in fact, it is clear thaht she is @ river ov lake vessel entirely unsuited for navigution

on the open sea, the Italian wuthorities auve only given ner clearance to return soust-wise to Harseillese. in order to ensure that this Stipulation is curried out, tie Italian Gover usent have arranged for the ship to be escorted, not only within ltalian territorial waters, put also on the high seas as far as French territorial waters and im the direction of MarseLlilese

Je Wis Majesty's hdbassy have thus the honour to renew treir reyuest thet the Freneh authorities will oe good enough to Keep & wateh for this vessel aad do everytning possible to prevent tne enbarxation of dllegHl immigrants.

Ministry of Forelgi ALL ULB.

WOOWOT *391430 G4093H 9178Nd FHL JO LHDISAdOD

Following document(¥S retained in the Department of origin under Section 3 (4)

of the Public Records Act, 1958

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(Action completed.)

No. bi . /

HIS Majesty’s Ambassador presents his compliments toH.M.P.S2 of S. for F.A. and has the honour to transmit to him the under-mentioned

documents. i A 4 f, a oe te fun.

1 7. ’ i ran i : a -@

Reference to previous correspondence: |

F Description of Enclosure. L | | | Name and Date. | Subject.

I

Copy of Note No. 465 to "Anal" Jewish the My. of Foreign Af- immigration ship. fairs of 19th May 197.

SA TT TT TT EN TT ST LT TE EE a TE BI ST TEE TERT ITIL ED ST I I TTT IE PE ELE EDIE

34794 30582—1 (8)

British Embassy, Paris 19th May 19%:7. .

iis Majesty's Embassy present their compliments to the Ministry of Fereign Affairs and with reference to their Note No. 374 ef the 17th April have the honour to state that the "Anal" arrived at Palermo on 17th May 1947 with 375 Jews on board, It is understood that this vessel left Marseilles in ballast at i p.m. on April 28th bound nominally for Tangier. She arrived at Site on the following day. The Italian authorities state that she has come to

Palermo direct from séte,

Ze His Majesty's Embassy would be mest grateful if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would investigate the cirewnstances in which the vessel left Séte, and in particular whether the passengers were allowed to embark at that port. If so, His Majesty's Embassy would be glad to know what visas were possessed by the passengers and to what measures of control the passengers and the vessel had been subjected before being alicwed to sail.

3. His Majesty's Embassy suggest that the Ministry of Foreign Affaire should cause inetruc- tions to be sent the French authorities in the ports of French North Africa, and in particular Tunis, to keep a lookout for this vessel in the event of her manag to slip away from Palermo end calling at one these ports for refuelling.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PALESTINE

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ff : A a a | parse EMBASSY, Coe J + See eee a wt ke! WASHINGTON 8, D. C. b a

BY AIR BAG "46th May 1947

SECRET ap) in ee

If y may interest you Government now appe Honduranian registry to they have an official Br is no British objection - i.e. that the ships are not likely to be used for the transport of illegal immigrants to Palestine.

26 Three cases of this have just come to our notice. The fifst was an application to the British -Vice-Consul at Jacksonville from the Suwannee. Fruit and Steamship Company, a Copy of which is enclosed. In this instance the Vice-Consul informed us that he personally knew the heads of the steamship company in question and was satisfied with their written statement regarding the use of the ships. We therefore informed the Vice Consul and the Honduranian Ambassador in Washington that we saw no objection, |

36 The second case was an application made to the Shipping Attache by the lawyer for the West India Fruit & Steamship Company, which wished to place under permanent Honduranian registry a car- ferry steamer now in San Francisco, for service between West Palm Beach and Havana. The Honduranian Ambassador has been informed. that there is no objection from our point of view.

Eastern Department, / 4-

Foreign Office, London 9 S oWe L e

4. In the third case, Hadow was informed by Wr, Floyd Blair of the National City Bank of New York, that a Panamanian company called the S.0.C. Armadora Aristomenis, Panama, S.A., wished to

register under the Honduranian flag seven Liberty ships. Mr. Floyd Blair said that he was aware of

our reason for wishing to pronounce upon the bona

fide nature of the registration (this has not of. course in fact been due to an initiative of ours)

and assured Hadow of his sympathy with our difficulties over the illegal immigrant traffic. He said that the pank's lawyer would submit the case to us and give

any necessary assurances.

Se The lawyer duly appeared and presented a written memorandum from which it appears that the

stock of the Panamanian firm is owned by two Greeks named Aristoteles S. Onassis and Constantino Konialidis. The former became a naturalized Argentine citizen in 1924 and the latter a naturalized Uruguayan citizen in 1928. The seven Liberty ships, whose names are: tAristarchos", "Aristidis", "Aristocratis", "Aristo- giton", tAristomenis", taristopais" and "Aristoteles", are stated to have been bought from the U,S. Maritime Commission, transferred to the Aristomenis Company with the Commission's consent, and granted provisional Honduranian registry between December 1946 and February 1947. Permanent Honduranian registry is now being applied for, for which purpose the Honduranian Embassy required to know that there was no British objection.

6. Of these seven ships, five are stated to be ander 18 months! charter to the French Government for the carriage to France of coal and wheat. The sixth is engaged in carrying eoal and wheat to Italy, and the seventh general cargoes from the Americas to other

countries.

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7. The bank spoke favourably of their knowledge of, and past dealing with, Messrs. Onassis and Konialidis, on the strength of which they have loaned to the

/Aristomenis

Aristomenis Company three million dollars. Of this amount $2,100,000 was secured by mortgages on the seven ships in question and on the assignment of charter party moneys payable to the company by the French Government. The member of the firm of attorneys who brought the memorandum to the Embassy added to it in writing the note that under the terms of the mortgages to the National City Bank of New York, the Aristomenis Company could not transfer title to, or charter the ships to, third parties except with the prior consent of the bank, He also gave oral assurances that the Bank desired that all obstacles to permanent Honduranian registry should be removed in view of their financial interest in the transaction.

8. Tn view of these assurances and of the fact that the Bank would hardly advance so large a sum unless they were reasonably certain that the ships were to be engaged in bona fide trade in which they would be in no danger of confiscation, we have informed the Honduranian Ambassador orally that we have no objection to their obtaining permanent Honduranian registry.

Ye This policy of the Honduranian Government causes certain difficulties. In the first place, we propose not to put anything in writing, unless absolutely obliged to do so, when dealing with the Honduranian Ambassador or with any firms which may approach us.. There is a danger that a hue and cry may be raised by any Jewish interests that may later be concerned, against the requirement that American firms and interests must seek the permission of the British Government for transactions in which the latter, as they will say, have no right to interfere. In the second place it may in some cases be very difficult to ensure that the ships will not later

be misused. If they are, and if we have previously stated that we have no objection to their registration,

/the

WOOWOT ‘391330 040939 917ENd JHL 3O LHDIYAMOD

the Honduranian Government will be able to say that we had expressed ourselves as satisfied at the time. if, on the other hand, too many delays are caused and too many difficulties made by us in the more doubtful cases, we may prejudice the present willing- ness of the Honduranian Government to help us. In the present cases, which appear to be above board from the Palestine point of view, we have informed the Honduranian Ambassador here quickly by telephone that we see no objection, in order to steer clear

of the last named difficulty.

10. We would be grateful for_a very early expression of your views on the policy w should be pursued towards urther approaches which we may receive —- and we expect that there may be a considerable number. We cannot be sure of coming to the right decision every time and it is probably true that there would be a hue and cry if Jewish interests are concerned in any later transaction. But we can of course say that the initiative came from the Honduranian Government (though certainly as a result of earlier British representations) and that we are expressing our views because the Honduranian Government had made this a condition

of permanent registration.

auasafay

ll. The Shipping Attache, who has seen this

letter, is sending a copy to the Ministry of Transport, and we are sending copies to Tegucigalpa, Panama

and Jerusalen.

WOOWOT £391930 GYOITE JITENd BHL 4O LHDIYAdOD

Yours ever,

CHANCERY

SUWANNEE FRUIT & STEASHIP COMPANY

foot Catherim Street JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

May 9, 1947

The Honorable ie ae inite British Vice Consul Barnett National Bank Building

Jacksonville, Florida

Dear Sir:

We, as agents for the Honduras Shipping Company, have made formal application to the Honduras Government for perm- anent ships! registries for the motor-vessels SAMANA and MACORIS, formerly United States Naval crafts, LST's 446 and 670. These vessels have been converted, by the Honduras Shipping Company, for use in our general cargo in regular cargo trade. Both vessels are now ready for operation.

These two vessels are described as follows:

Length 327.6 Gross Tonnage 2201.31 Breadth 50! Net Tonnage 1052.81

Depth 25.1 +

The Honduras Shipping Company presently operates seven ships under Honduran registry, and has been established for the past ten years in regular shipping service over established routes, and plans for the two ships described are that they ars also to be placed in this trade operating petween points in the West Indies, Caribbean, Northside South America and pats in the United States.

WOONOT §391340 GY0N3Y 9178Nd FHL 4O LHDIYAdOD

The vessels owned by Honduras Shipping Company are owned under charter to the Bahama Line, Ltd., Nassau, Bahamas, which company is known quite well by you.

With the information above in hand, we respectfully ask the approval of the British Embassy for the issuance of these Honduras registries, assuring your government that there will be no inftingement of my kind by these or any cher vessels owned, operated or controlled by the Honduras

Shipping Company. Yours very truly,

s/ C. deMontmollin, Assistant to VicePresident

CorriandSr

PORDIGH OFFICE 9 Sette Le

Mey 28th, 1947. /O

| : YUT FILE I send you hercrith e copy of a letter from the Chancery at Waehineton (and connected telegrams

outlining & ney development with regerd to the reristretion of shipping under Hondurss flage

The action token by the Government of Honduras in submitting new applications for registration to ue is in mom tars o ve Leome one but it may reise certain complications. I think the Committee should be aware of this Gevelooment and we cthould certeinly value thear Revies before replying: to paragraph 10 of the Mannine tor Lettor. Could this be @ealt with at the meeting on Pxiday®

Toon cenling a cory cf this lsetter to. iigham st the Golonicl Gftice 7

“le mvershed,

Cabinet Ooficese

Registry | ds No. #4326 $y 3/ | OUT FILE (/

i To Secret. J F. O.,

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted. ' | | t | 0i?.

Open.

Depp Bh l: M. Draft. |

’ x . Your letter G 12h of May 16: Jewish “ neayhagton | illegal immigration and Honduras registry.

We appreciate the action of the Honduran@an

Telegram. | : Government in referring applications for Y

No... 5.3.61... registration to us in the special circumstances (D ate MM og. 3S = now optaine® and shall be grateful if you will Repeat to :-— continue to clear these applications. We

_.« | agree with the liney Suggested in Paragraph 10 Tegucigalpa $0 : . ee of your letter, should there be criticism of this

procedure we consider that cases should be

IN THIS MARGIN.

cleared as quickly as posgible and referred to. us only when absolutely necessary, Finally

it should be made claar to the Honduran@an ‘authorities that, in raising no objection to the registration of any particular ship ,we reserve our right to make represéntationglater if fresh

ev idence should become available. SE Giair- -Code-- Cypher

Cypher. to a Py

Distribution :—

WOOWOT “391430 GY093N 9171ENd FHL JO LHDIYAdOD

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Departmental No lL ¢ -

Copies to :— Léler es

1 Sx 3148 Wt. 26469/187 50m 9/46 (51) F.&S.

@ OUT Fite

B 4926/84/82 DEPARTMENTAL NO. 2

Cypher/OTP | DEP ARLIGNI AG Ve =

FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO WASHINGTON

No. 5361 Sist May, 1947.

D. 2045 pem 1st June, 1947.

Repeated to : Tegucigalpa Noe 20 IDDOOL

Your letter G.124 of May 16th: Jewish illegal immigre- tion and Hondures registry.

We appreciate the sction of the Hondursnean Gover ment in referring applications for registration to us in the special circumstances now ebtaining amd shall be grateful if you will centime to dear these applications. We agree with the line suggested in paragraph 10 ef your letter, should there be criticism of this procedure, am consider that cases should be cleared as quickly a8 pessible and referred te us only when absolutely necessary. Finally, 4t should be made clear to the Honduranean authorities that, in raising no objection to the registration of any particular ship, we reserve our right to make representations later if fresh evidense should become aveilabls.

~~.

NOONOT *391430 090938 917ENd IHL JO LHDIYAdOD

[Copy sent to Middle Bast Secretariat. |

7? NMiD

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Following document(s) retained in the Department of origin under Section 3 (4)

of the Public Records Act, 1958

ELE 59 / F/. 3 EALZCSL ZSYLSTZ